Who said what on Tuchel's appointment as England manager / Photo: © AFP
Who said what on Tuchel's appointment as England manager
Thomas Tuchel's appointment by the Football Association (FA) on Wednesday proved divisive as England turn to a German manager to try and win their first major tournament since 1966.
AFP Sports looks at the reaction to the arrival of the man who won the Champions League as Chelsea boss in 2021:
"I'm sorry, I have a German passport."
-- Tuchel on crossing the divide of one of international football's biggest rivalries to manage England.
"I think it's a really great appointment. I worked closely with him last season and think he's a really top, top coach and also a great person. He'll bring a lot of energy to the squad and experience."
-- England captain Harry Kane is looking forward to a reunion with the coach that signed him for Bayern Munich last year.
"You have to win the tournament, that's what he's been hired for. They (the FA) have seen the bunch of players are the best England have had for a long, long time."
-- Former England skipper Alan Shearer on the demands Tuchel faces.
"Tuchel will have looked at this squad and thought there is so much talent in there, this is an unbelievable opportunity of winning the greatest trophy of all."
-- Ex-England striker Gary Lineker on England's chances at the 2026 World Cup.
"The point is we don't have an English candidate strong enough to take that job."
-- Former England defender Micah Richards.
"Best of luck to the new England manager Thomas Tuchel. I won't hold his old job against him, but I wish him well in the new one".
-- British Prime Minister and Arsenal fan Keir Starmer welcomed the former Chelsea manager.
"England have a brilliant manager, but I think he should be English... My feeling is that the whole point of international football, certainly with the major nations who compete for the tournaments, is that it's your best versus their best.
-- Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher on the debate over hiring a foreign manager.
"We are in a rut when it comes to English coaching. English coaching is one of the least respected big nations in Europe when it comes to taking charge of a football team. Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese coaches are renowned for their styles of play, for their philosophy."
-- Ex-Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes the FA missed the chance to promote an English coach.
C.Stevenson--TNT
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